Tie rod for use with an internal spreader means

ABSTRACT

A retractable, removable and reusable tie assembly for concrete forms which includes a single tie rod, and an internal spreader and spacing system which includes a sleeve means, the spreader system having built-in provisions for internal spreading and spacing of forms in such a manner as to permit the tie rod to be partially withdrawn on one side of the form facilitating the installation of the closing form, on the opposite side, and then to be inserted to engage and lock with the internal spreader system, thus keeping the two adjacent sides of the forms in a definite predetermined position apart during the concrete pour, then to be removed undamaged from the hardened concrete prior to dismantling of the forms, leaving the internal spreader in the concrete to be removed after stripping of the forms without damaging the internal spreader.

Unite ill States Patent Lovisa et al.

[ TIE ROD FOR USE WITH AN INTERNAL 3,163,911 1/1965 Kenney 249/41SPREADER NIEANS 3,746,297 7/1973 Daniels, Jr. 249/40 3,767,158 10/1973Mikus 249/ Inventors: Peter R. Lovisa, Pelham; Dusan g a of PrimaryExaminerRobert D. Baldwin Assistant Examiner-John McQuade [73]Assignees: Peter R. Lovisa, Pelham; Dausan Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Kane, Dalsimer, Kane,

Tausanovitch, Northport; Tullio Sullivan and Kurucz Lovisa, HuntingtonStation, all of NY. part interest to each [57] ABSTRACT [22] Flled: May1974 A retractable, removable and reusable tie assembly for [21] A N469,421 concrete forms which includes a single tie rod, and an internalspreader and spacing system which includes a Related Apphcatlon Datasleeve means, the spreader system having built-in prol l Division ofMarch 7, 9 atvisions for internal spreading and spacing of forms in3,822,860 such a manner as to permit the tie rod to be partiallywithdrawn on one side of the form facilitating the in- [52] US. Cl.2249/213; 249/42 Stallation of the closing form on the opposite Side [51]hit. Cl. E04G 17/08 and then to be inserted to engage and lock with theFleld Of Search internal preader system thus keeping the two adja-249/-191, 213414 216417, 219 W cent sides of the forms in a definitepredetermined position apart during the concrete pour, then to be re-[56] References cued moved undamaged from the hardened concrete priorUNITED STATES PATENTS to dismantling of the forms, leaving the internal2,190,700 2/1940 Colt 249/40 Spreader in the concrete to be removedafter Stripping 2,709,292 5/1955 om 249/43 f the forms without damagingthe internal spreader. 2,898,659 8/1959 Shoemaker 249/219 W 3,010,17511/1961 Shoemaker 249/41 2 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures e f 3 f 65 I 82 I60 Q 94 US, Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 1 of4 4 3,926,404

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet20f4 3,926,404

US. Patent Dec.16, 1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,926,404

FIG?

US. atfint Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 4 of4 392,4

TIE ROD FOR USE WITH AN INTERNAL SPREADER MEANS This is a division ofapplication Ser. No. 232,450, filed Mar. 7, 1972, now US. Pat. No.3,822,860.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The general purpose of tie assemblies as atensile unit is to secure forms in place against the lateral pressure ofunhardened concrete.

There are three basic types of ties for concrete forms. First, acontinuous single tie rod, usually equipped with two weakened breakpoints at certain distance from the concrete faces. The external partsor ends of the ties, after the concrete is hardened, are twisted, brokenat the weakened points and removed. The second type of tie is a reusabletapered tie, removed from the concrete wall in the direction of largerrod diameter. The third type of tie is an internal disconnecting tiewhich consists of a threaded inner part that is lost in the concrete andtwo removable end bolts which project through the form. In all cases,holes left in the concrete surface are plugged or patched by grout.

The first type of tie, (commonly called snap tie), break back tie, havea smaller cross section, and a weakened section for break back and arefeasible only for lighter concrete pressures. They are used with asimple wedge type holding devices, which are hammered in place for easyadjustment of the forms.

The snap ties are a single unit tie with a built-in spreader systemwashers, or cones, but has disadvantages in closing and strippingoperations of the forms. After the first side of the form is erected andreinforcing steel is installed, the snap tie has to be inserted from theinner face of these forms through the hole in the plywood sheet. In thisposition snap ties project through the thickness of the future wall andin addition, about 8 inches past the face of the concrete surface. Thiscondition creates time consuming work in matching and pushing fishing ofties through the large number of holes on the plywood sheet when it isinstalled on the opposite side.

Similar difficulties exist in stripping of the forms. Usually, a formpanel or plywood sheet gets stuck on the projected tie heads and longtie ends, which are nearly impossible to place exactly parallel to eachother.

To overcome this, ends of snap ties are usually broken before strippingforms. This cannot be done after the minimum required curing period ofthe concrete has elapsed since the ties cannot be twisted and brokenbecause they will rotate in the still insufficiently hardened or greenconcrete. Forms have to remain in place for a longer period and thereusability of the forms is decreased. Finishing can not take placewhile concrete is still green or relatively soft.

The second type of tie, a tapered tie, requires a coating before eachreuse, needs to be hammered or rotated, or both, after concrete ispoured, which often requires overtime work. The spreader system isindependent of the tie and as such is not positive and reliable.Manufacture and machining of tapered ties is expensive and, therefore,uneconomical for general use.

The third type of tie has an internal disconnecting part and tworemovable threaded end bolts, commonly known as coil type, and isgenerally used where heavier loads are required or when using largeforming panels known as gang forms. The bolt ends require screwing andthe use of tools to secure them to the form which is time consuming andadds to the labor costs.

Conditions for closing and stripping of forms are much better than witha break back tie, but still represent a two man job to match and threadend bolts with intermediate threaded connection, especially for boltsout of reach, located in the middle part of large form panels.

A reusable concrete form tie is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,437,309. Thetie assembly disclosed is provided with a yieldable tube with a tie rodslidably disposed therein, the tube being employed as the sleeve meansbetween the forms. After the forms have been removed the entireassembly, including the tie rod, is removed from the conrete wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, combines the benefits ofsnap ties as a single tie rod unit, but without being restricted to asmall cross-section and with the benefits of removable end bolts of thecoil type tie, thereby providing greatly reduced labor costs in theforming operation, freely retractable, easily installed and entirelywithdrawn with forms in place. The removable tie rod with a remotelyengaged internal spreader assembly represents an entirely new and uniquetype of tie, thus offering an improved technique in forming operations.

The invention herein generally contemplates the provision of a reusabletie assembly for concrete forms capable of being disassembled after useand which is readily removed from the concrete wall or structure withoutdamage to any portion of the tie assembly. The tie assembly includes aninternal spreader means adapted to be positioned between concrete formsand to provide internal spreading and spacing means as well as a passagefor receiving a tie rod. The tie rod is removably mounted in the passageof the sleeve means and is provided with means defining surfacesengageable with the rod and internal spreader means so that the rod andinternal spreader means are disengageable from each other after theconcrete has been poured. The tie rod is removable therefrom while theforms remain in an erected position thereby permitting the stripping ofthe forms from the concrete without the necessity of severing tie rodsor holding the forms in a position for removal from ends of tie rodsembedded in the concrete and with the subsequent removal of the internalspreader means without damage. The invention also contemplates theprovision of a novel wedge for removably mounting to the forms andadapted to releasably couple to the ends of the tie rod regardless ofthe plane of the tie rod passing through the concrete forms.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved type of tie assembly which will facilitate theerection andstripping of concrete forms; which readily reduces the labor costsattendant thereto, and which can be disassembled prior to the strippingoperation after the concrete structure has been formed. Another objectof the invention is to provide a tie assembly which can be easily andquickly installed having a variety of uses including gang forming.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tie assembly which isrelatively inexpensive to manufacture, economical to use, readilyassembled and disassembled prior to and subsequent to use, with allparts being reusable. Another object of the invention is to providewedges which are employed to anchor or rigidly mount the tie rod to theform to prevent lateral movement of the tie rod assembly after erectionof the fonns and which can be readily removed from the form and easilydisengaged from the tie rod.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view which illustratesone form of a tie assembly of the invention herein.

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the tie assembly ready foruse.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a washer means for releasablymounting the elastomeric sleeve means to the tie rod of the assemblyshown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the washer means illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of another form of the tie assembly of theinvention herein.

FIG. 6 is an elevational sectional view of the tie assembly ready foruse.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the steps for erecting and strippingconcrete forms employing the tie assembly of the invention herein.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the novel wedge assembly for removablymounting to the ends of the tie rod of FIGS. 1 and 5.

FIG. 11 illustrates the wedge of FIG. 10 mounted to an end of the tierod of FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 illustrates the wedge of FIG. 10 mounted to the other end of thetie rod of FIG. 5.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the tie rod coupling means before beingmounted to the wedge of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For a better understanding ofthe invention herein reference is bad to the drawings and particularlyto the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4.

Tie assembly 10 includes tie rod 12 and internal spreader means 20.Internal spreader means comprises a yieldable elastomeric tubular sleeve21 having mounted at one end 24 a frustro conical cone 22. A passageextending through cone 22 is formed so as to be in axial alignment withthe passage of tubular sleeve 21. Cone 22 is generally formed of hardrubber such as neoprene.

Cone 22 has a lower base 26 and an upper base 28 with an annular recess30 formed therein and having a diameter substantially equal to theoutside diameter of sleeve 21. The annular recess 30 facilitatesmounting cone 22 on end 24 by providing contact surfaces within theannular recess for receiving a suitable adhesive so that end 24 isbonded thereto.

Cone 22 has embedded therein adjacent base 26 slotted washer 36. Slottedwasher 36 is formed of a rigid material such as steel and forms part ofthe locking mechanism for removably mounting internal spreader means 20on rod 12. Slotted washer 36 may be formed by a stamping procedurewherein slots 38 and 39 are formed diametrically opposite to each other.The portion of the slot which is stamped from washer 36 forms dependingprojections 40 and 41. Also, formed around the outer edge of base 26 isannular rim 29 which serves as a seal to prevent leakage of concretethrough the holes in the forms F.

A removable cone 23 is formed of a hard rubber material such as neopreneand is made having the same configuration as cone 22. A second steelwasher 37 is embedded in the base 27 of cone 23 and may be slotted asillustrated in FIG. 4 but is preferably provided without slots. Also, asimilar sealing rim 29 as formed on base 26 is provided on base 27.Formed on the lateral surface cones 22 and 23 and adjacent theirrespective upper bases 28 and 28 are raised projections 22 and 23' so asto provide stop means to prevent rotation thereof when retracting orremoving the tie rod 12.

Tie rod 12 is made of a material having high tensile and shearingproperties such as suitable types of steel. Small projections 14 areformed on rod 12 and are positioned diametrically opposite to eachother. Projections 14 may be made by simply pressing the steel rod so asto die cut the rod to form a raised projection on each side thereof.Similarly formed projections 15 are spaced from projections 14 adistance from each other substantially equal to the length of sleevemeans 20. When mounting internal spreader means 20 on rod 12 one end ofthe rod is passed through cone 22 and tubular sleeve 21. Cone 22 is thenrotated to permit cone 22 to pass beyond raised projections 14. Then, bysimply rotating cone 22 less than 180 internal spreader means 20 will bein locked position on rod 12. Then cone 23 is passed over the end of rod12 adjacent projections 14 so that cone 23 will be mounted in positionas illustrated in FIG. 2.

Formed adjacent each end of rod 12 is a pair of parallel notches 18 and19. These notches form part of the locking assembly for removablymounting the tie rod assembly in fixed position to the forms. Parallelnotches 18 and 19 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. I are mounted ina steel holding device such as illustrated in FIG. 12. Such a steelholding device or Wedge is easily mounted to a form as illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8.

Wedge 42 is generally rectangular in shape and is made of a malleablesteel. A raised body portion in the form of an incline plane 43 having alongitudinally extending slot 44 is formed therein. At the base of slot44 an opening 45 is provided for receiving rod 12 or 62 and also toprovide an access opening for mounting tie rod coupling means 50 in slot44. Tie rod coupling means 50 is held in fixed slot 44 by a suitablestop means 52. Thus, tie rod anchoring means 50 is slidable along slot44 from the junction of the opening 45 to the opposite end of slot 43.The notch 46 provided in tie rod anchoring means 50 has a dimensionsubstantially equal to the mass 17 of rod 12 defining the base surfacesof parallel notches 18 and 19.

The wall defining the parallel notches l8 and 19 and which are formedadjacent each end of the tie rod are arcuately formed. Tie rod couplingmeans 50 on its upper surface has an arcuate recess 56 formed normal tonotch 46. The arcuate recess 56 permits the arcuate wall of therespective parallel notches 18, 19, 65 and to contact tie rod couplingmeans at any angle with respect to the tie rod passing through theconcrete forms F illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9. Also, formed in tierod coupling means 50 is a recess 57 having dimensions substantiallyequal to the outside dimensions of camming head 64 of tie rod 62. Formedat the outer lips 48 of notch 46 are camming surfaces so that when wedge42 is mounted on the form as seen in FIG. 11 tie rod coupling means 50will automatically slip over camming head 64 to releasably lock tie rod62 in fixed position.

Wedge 42 has increased strength due to the construction of tie rodcoupling means 50. When tie rod 12 or 62 is mounted in fixed position onthe forms as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 the forces exerted by theconcrete against tie rod 12 or 62 would tend to shear the ends of thetie rod or tend to deform wedge 42 so that it would fail. However, byproviding the tie rod 62 with arcuate wall surfaces 71 the forcesexerted on the tie rod are transmitted over the entire mass of tie rodcoupling means 50 as illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 11 and 12. It ispossible therefore to increase the load of the wedge by providing thestructure of tie rod coupling means 50.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of a reusable tie assembly60 for concrete forms capable of being diassembled after use inaccordance with the invention herein. Tie assembly 60 comprises tie rod62 having a flanged head portion 64 formed at end 63 and at the otherend 61 is a pair of parallel slots 65. A tubular metal member 68 havinga pair of parallel slots 70 is formed at end 69 and at the other end athreaded portion 72 is formed and is adapted to threadably mountinternal spreader means 80 thereto. Tubular member 68 is slidablymounted on tie rod 62 so that parallel slots 70 are positioned adjacentthe flanged head portion 64. Tubular member 68 is permanently retainedon tie rod 62 by forming diametrically opposed projections 66 aftertubular member 68 has been slidably mounted on rod 62. Projections 66are formed similar to projections 14 and 15 of rod 12 as described inFIG. 1. A similar pair of projections 67 are formed and spaced adistance from threaded end 72 of pipe 68 such that when internalspreader means 80 is mounted thereon, as illustrated in FIG. 6, adesired distance for maintaining forms is obtained as illustrated mostclearly in FIGS. 7 through 9. Internal spreader means 80 has mounted atone end a frustro conical cone 82 similar in design and formed ofsimilar material to frustro conical cones 22 and 23 of FIG. 1. Embeddedin base 81 of cone 82 is threaded nut 83 adapted to receive in threadedengagement threaded end 72 of tubular member 68. At the other end ofinternal spreader means 80 is a removable frustro conical cone 84similar in configuration to frustro conical cones 22 and 23 of FIG. 1.Embedded in the base of cone 84 is washer 37' similar to the washer 36of FIGS. 3 and 4 but preferably without slots. Internal sleeve means 80includes sleeve 86 and forms a passage for tie rod 62. Sleeve 86 is madeof an elastic material such as natural or synthetic rubber.

Illustrated in FIG. 8, tie assembly 60 is mounted in position to formsF. Also illustrated mounted in position on tie rod 62 is steel wedge 42.Tie rod coupling means 50 is illustrated having the surfaces definingparallel slots 65 mounted therein while at the other end the surfacesdefining parallel slots 70 of tubular member 68 are mounted to slot 44of wedge 42 as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. Tie rod coupling means 50is provided with a recess 57 which is of a size to receive a portion ofcamming head 64 of rod 62. The surfaces defining parallel slots 70slidably engage the surfaces defining longitudinally extending slot 44.Thus, when tie assembly 60 is mounted in position, as shown in FIGS. 8,11 and 12, tie rod 62 is incapable of lateral movement since theparallel slots 65 and 70 are locked in wedge 42 thereby maintainingforms F a predetermined distance defined by the length of internalspreader means 80. Also, by employing the wedge 42, tie assembly 60 doesnot necessarily require mounting through forms F in a position normal toforms F but may be skew thereto. This is possible since the surfacesdefining parallel slots 65 and are formed having arcuate walls 71 and72. Similar arcuate walls are formed in parallel slots 18 and 19 of rod12. Further, by providing arcuate walls in the parallel slots of theembodiments of FIGS. 1 and 5 and the arcuate recess 56 of tie rodcoupling means 50 it is possible to maintain the lateral pressurescreated by concrete being poured into the space between the forms and toincrease the rated load of the wedge without the necessity of increasingthe mass of the wedge or tie rod.

In practice, the process for erecting and stripping forms is illustratedin FIGS. 7 through 9. As indicated above, the tie assembly depicted inFIGS. 7 through 9 illustrates the assembly of FIG. 5. Thus, indescribing the erection and stripping of forms F illustrated in FIGS. 7through 9 the tie assembly of FIG. 5 will be described. Tie assembly 60is disassembled by unthreading tubular member 68 from internal spreadermeans which is removed from tie rod 62. Tie rod 62 is passed through anopening in form F, then internal spreader means 80 is slidably mountedon tie rod 62 so that only a short distance of tie rod 62 extends beyondremovable cone 84 of internal spreader means 80. Then, after all of thetie rods that are to be employed for form F are similarly mountedtherein the closing form is mounted by manipulating tie rod 62 intocorresponding openings of the second form. Tie rod 62 is then mounted inposition by the assembly of steel wedge 42 the parallel members orwallers as illustrated in FIG. 8 and as shown in enlarged elevationalview of FIGS. 11 and 12. Tie rod 62 is locked in position by mountingthe ends of the tie rod as described for FIGS. 11 and 12. Wedge 42 isheld in position simply by a wedging action or, for example, by using anail through the openings 49 provided in wedge 42 as shown in FIG. 10.

After the concrete has been poured, the nails are removed from wedge 42and the ends of the tie rod 62 are unlocked by simply removing the steelwedge from the forms. Tie rod 62 is released from tie rod coupling means50 and is retracted to the point where projections 66 of tie rod 62contact the end of tubular member 68. When tie rod 62 is removed to thepoint where projection 66 are contacted by tubular member 68, tubularmember 68 is unthreaded from the threaded nut 83 embedded in cone 82.Then tie rod 62 together with tubular member 68 is removed. Tie rod 62is shown removed in FIG. 9 so that only internal spreader means 80remains embedded in the concrete. Forms F are then stripped from theconcrete in the usual fashion exposing cones 82 and 84. Also projections82 and 84' formed on cones 82 and 84 prevent rotation of the cones whenremoving tie rod 62 as described above. Cone 82 is grasped and by simplystretching elastomeric sleeve 86 the bond holding the elastomeric sleevein the concrete is broken and is then easily removed therefrom. Then bysimply grasping cone 84 embedded on the other side of the concrete it isremoved and reassembled as explained above. The passage made byelastomeric sleeve means is plugged in the usual fashion.

It is obvious from the foregoing that a reusable tie assembly has beendisclosed and it is easily and quickly disassembled for removal from theconcrete after a forming operation and can be reassembled for subsequentreuse. Also, the reusable tie assembly of the invention herein can bemounted in position even 7 though the tie rod is not exactly normal tothe surface of the form and the wedge means employed permits mountingthe tie rod in fixed position even though it is skewed to the surface ofthe form.

We claim:

1. A continuous reusable tie rod adapted to receive an internal spreadermeans for maintaining concrete forms a predetermined distance apartcomprising a continuous rod having opposed ends and coupling meansdisposed adjacent each end for cooperating in releasably mounting thetie rod in fixed position on the concrete forms, engaging meansintermediate the rod ends defining surfaces for cooperating in engagingsurfaces of the spreader means so that the tie rod and spreader aredisengagable from each other while the forms are still in place wherebythe tie rod is retractable and removable from the concrete withoutdamage to the tie rod or concrete, the tie rod including a cammminghead, a tubular member having opposed ends slidably mounted on the rodand disposed between the engaging means defining the surfaces adapted toengage the surfaces formed on the spreader means and the camming head,one end of the tubular member being adjacent the camming head and havingthereon one of the coupling means, the other end of the tubular memberbeing formed with means for coupling to the spreader means.

2. The reusable tie rod of claim 1 wherein the coupling means on the endof the tubular member adjacent the camming head includes a pair ofparallel slots, each parallel slot having a pair of walls, the walladjacent the end of the tubular member being formed arcuately.

1. A continuous reusable tie rod adapted to receive an internal spreadermeans for maintaining concrete forms a predetermined distance apartcomprising a continuous rod having opposed ends and coupling meansdisposed adjacent each end for cooperating in releasably mounting thetie rod in fixed position on the concrete forms, engaging meansintermediate the rod ends defining surfaces for cooperating in engagingsurfaces of the spreader means so that the tie rod and spreader aredisengagable from each other while the forms are still in place wherebythe tie rod is retractable and removable from the concrete withoutdamage to the tie rod or concrete, the tie rod including a cammminghead, a tubular member having opposed ends slidably mounted on the rodand disposed between the engaging means defining the surfaces adapted toengage the surfaces formed on the spreader means and the camming head,one end of the tubular member being adjacent the camming head and havingthereon one of the coupling means, the other end of the tubular memberbeing formed with means for coupling to the spreader means.
 2. Thereusable tie rod of claim 1 wherein the coupling means on the end of thetubular member adjacent the camming head includes a pair of parallelslots, each parallel slot having a pair of walls, the wall adjacent theend of the tubular member being formed arcuately.